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Horst Schaefer

I am trying to apply formal concepts from mathematics, logic or science in my work. One of my goals is to reach a balance between these formal aspects, artistic freedom and the resulting aesthetic appearance.
Some time ago I discovered the so called Squaring the Square problem. Basically it asks how can one divide a given square into smaller squares. The most demanding case has the additional requirement that all smaller squares are different. The first solution was found 1938 by Roland Sprague. For more information see www.squaring.net. The site is run by Stuart Anderson, it contains a wealth of further information about this topic.

Recursive SPSS order 21 - Yellow-Red-Blue Mondrian Style

30 cm x 30 cm

Digital Print

2013

SPSS stands for Simple Perfect Squared Square. In the non-recursive version the square is divided into 21 smaller squares, such that all smaller squares are unequal. This original solution was found in 1978 by A.J.W. Duijvestijn (a mathematician born 1927 in the Netherlands and living until 1998). The recursive version shown here, replaces each of the 21 squares with a fitting smaller version, creating this recursive design.